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Police & Fire
West Milford PD: Garfield Driver, 19, Whose Car Snapped Pole, Downed Wires Was DWI West Milford PD: Garfield Driver, 19, Whose Car Snapped Pole, Downed Wires Was DWI
West Milford PD: Garfield Driver, 19, Whose Car Snapped Pole, Downed Wires Was DWI A 19-year-old driver from Garfield was intoxicated when her car slammed into a utility pole, slid down an embankment and landed on its side in West Milford, authorities said. Officers who responded to the reported crash on Westbrook Road near Snake Den Road on Aug. 5 found a snapped utility pole and downed power lines, West Milford police said in a release on Tuesday, Sept. 5. They also found Jessica Szewczyk next to her blue 2022 Subaru WRX, which landed on its passenger side, according to the release. Szewczyk “displayed signs of being under the influence of an alcoholic beverage,” the r…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
West Milford Man, 32, Accused Of Sexually Abusing Minor In Front Of Other Children West Milford Man, 32, Accused Of Sexually Abusing Minor In Front Of Other Children
West Milford Man, 32, Accused Of Sexually Abusing Minor In Front Of Other Children A 32-year-old West Milford man was charged with sexually abusing a child in the presence of two other youngsters. Michael Lemus was arrested without incident on Monday, Aug. 14, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said. It followed an investigation that began after West Milford police notified her Special Victims Unit in June, right after the alleged assault occurred at a residence in town, the prosecutor said. Lemus, who most recently worked for a cargo and freight trucking company, remained held Wednesday in the Bergen County Jail. He's charged with two counts of sexual assault …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Police: West Milford Driver Was DWI When She Slammed Into SUV Driven By Sparta Man, 71 Police: West Milford Driver Was DWI When She Slammed Into SUV Driven By Sparta Man, 71
Police: West Milford Driver Was DWI When She Slammed Into SUV Driven By Sparta Man, 71 A driver was drunk when her sedan crossed a double-yellow line and slammed head-on into an SUV, seriously injuring herself and the other driver, on a road along Greenwood Lake in West Milford, authorities announced on Wednesday. Jessica Lima, 38, of West Milford was airlifted to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson following the late Saturday afternoon crash on Lakeside Road on June 10, township police Lt. Anthony Parrello said. The other driver, 71-year-old David Thierman of Sparta, was taken to St. Joe’s by ambulance, the lieutenant disclosed on July 12. Lima’s 2006 T…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Unconscious Teen Pulled From Greenwood Lake, Airlifted To Hospital Unconscious Teen Pulled From Greenwood Lake, Airlifted To Hospital
Unconscious Teen Pulled From Greenwood Lake, Airlifted To Hospital A young college student was airlifted to the hospital after he was seriously injured in Greenwood Lake over the weekend, authorities said. West Milford police responding to the noon call found Yilin Choi, 18, of Bellevue, Washington, unconscious but breathing on the dock at Lake Park Terrace on Saturday, Detective Sgt. Matthew Kloo said. Choi, who attends NYU, apparently was unfamiliar with the area. He dove into shallow water and didn’t resurface, according to Kloo. West Milford police and EMS tended to Choi, who was taken by ambulance to Greenwood Lake Airport, the sergeant said. Atlant…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
It’s Over: Burglars Who Stole $1M In World Series Rings, More From Berra Museum Busted By Feds It’s Over: Burglars Who Stole $1M In World Series Rings, More From Berra Museum Busted By Feds
It’s Over: Burglars Who Stole $1M In World Series Rings, More From Berra Museum Busted By Feds The local cops suspected it was an inside job, but federal authorities on Thursday said otherwise. It seems the burglars who broke into the Yogi Berra Museum at Montclair State University nearly a decade ago and stole several of his World Series rings, two of his MVP plaques and the glove the Yankee legend used to catch Don Larsen’s perfect game were actually part of a multi-state ring. Eight people in all were charged with a series of heists of priceless artwork and one-of-a-kind sports memorabilia from museums and cultural centers in several states and Washington, D.C. from 1999 through …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Rider, 69, Airlifted After Falling From Horse In West Milford Rider, 69, Airlifted After Falling From Horse In West Milford
Rider, 69, Airlifted After Falling From Horse In West Milford A 69-year-old rider from Hawthorne was airlifted to the hospital after falling off a horse in West Milford, authorities said. The victim was conscious but disoriented and had several small cuts on his face following the mishap at the Echo Lake Stables on Blakely Lane, off Route 23, shortly after 10 a.m. Saturday, June 3, Police Detective Sgt. Matthew Kloo said. West Milford First Aid and Atlantic Medics tended to the victim before bringing him to a nearby field, the sergeant said. West Milford firefighters secured the landing zone for AirMed One, which transported him to Hackensack Univers…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Former West Milford HS Athlete, Honor Student Charged After Police Drug Raid Former West Milford HS Athlete, Honor Student Charged After Police Drug Raid
Former West Milford HS Athlete, Honor Student Charged After Police Drug Raid A former high school honor student and basketball player was busted on drug charges after West Milford police raided his home, authorities said. Shaan Celik, 20, had psilocybin mushrooms, THC vape cartridges, pot edibles and marijuana for sale at the Otterhole Road residence, Police Chief James DeVore said. Police also found packaging materials and an undisclosed amount of suspected proceeds from drug sales, DeVore said. Detectives worked the case for several months before the 9 a.m. May 15 raid, the chief said. Another man who was in another bedroom was released without charges, he said.…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
YOUNG HEROES: Neighborhood Kids Save Bedridden Woman After Dog Starts West Milford House Fire YOUNG HEROES: Neighborhood Kids Save Bedridden Woman After Dog Starts West Milford House Fire
Young Heroes: Neighborhood Kids Save Bedridden Woman After Dog Starts West Milford House Fire A bedridden West Milford woman's home had quickly begun filling with smoke after her dog accidentally ignited a fire on her kitchen stove. "This was close to being a fatal," one responder said. It wasn't, authorities said, because four neighborhood youngsters who heard alarms quickly ran to get help. Township Police Officers Randy Yevchak and Bill Pittelko and Company 3 Fire Chief Keith Weber forced open the door and found the Ridge Road home at the corner of Juanita Street filled with smoke shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday, May 13, Fire Public Information Officer Rich Poplaski said. The wo…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
THAT'S ALL, FOLKS: Threat From Largest North Jersey Wildfire In 13 Years Is Over, Officials Say THAT'S ALL, FOLKS: Threat From Largest North Jersey Wildfire In 13 Years Is Over, Officials Say
That'S ALL, Folks: Threat From Largest North Jersey Wildfire In 13 Years Is Over, Officials Say THE WORST IS OVER: The wildfire that marched through West Milford the past three days is 100% contained, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service reported on Saturday. The blaze, which was beaten back at first but then grew steadily over the previous 48 hours, finally topped out at 972 acres on April 15 – and that was it, the service said. Fire officials also said this would be the last of the updates from the “Kanouse Wildfire," the largest blaze in North Jersey since 2010. Ten structures in all were threatened – half of which were evacuated – yet none were seriously damaged thanks to the supp…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
IN CONTROL: North Jersey Wildfire 100% Contained, Threat Is Gone, Officials Say IN CONTROL: North Jersey Wildfire 100% Contained, Threat Is Gone, Officials Say
IN Control: North Jersey Wildfire 100% Contained, Threat Is Gone, Officials Say UPDATE: The wildfire that marched through West Milford the past three days is 100% contained, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service reported on Saturday. The blaze, which was beaten back at first but then grew steadily over the previous 48 hours, finally topped out at 972 acres on April 15 – and that was it, the service said. Fire officials also said this would be the last of the updates from the “Kanouse Wildfire," the largest blaze in North Jersey since 2010. Ten structures in all were threatened – half of which were evacuated – yet none were seriously damaged thanks to the support of fire…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
DONE AND DONE: North Jersey Wildfire Is 100% Contained, No More Updates, Authorities Say DONE AND DONE: North Jersey Wildfire Is 100% Contained, No More Updates, Authorities Say
Done AND Done: North Jersey Wildfire Is 100% Contained, No More Updates, Authorities Say The worst is over: The wildfire that marched through West Milford the past three days is 100% contained, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service reported on Saturday. The blaze, which was beaten back at first but then grew steadily over the previous 48 hours, finally topped out at 972 acres on April 15 – and that was it, the service said. Fire officials also said this would be the last of the updates from the “Kanouse Wildfire," the largest blaze in North Jersey since 2010. Ten structures in all were threatened – half of which were evacuated – yet none were seriously damaged thanks to the supp…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
FINITO: North Jersey Wildfire 100% Contained, Threat Is Over, Officials Say FINITO: North Jersey Wildfire 100% Contained, Threat Is Over, Officials Say
Finito: North Jersey Wildfire 100% Contained, Threat Is Over, Officials Say The worst is over: The wildfire that marched through West Milford the past three days is 100% contained, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service reported on Saturday. The blaze, which was beaten back at first but then grew steadily over the previous 48 hours, finally topped out at 972 acres on April 15 – and that was it, the service said. Fire officials also said this would be the last of the updates from the “Kanouse Wildfire," the largest blaze in North Jersey since 2010. Ten structures in all were threatened – half of which were evacuated – yet none were seriously damaged thanks to the supp…

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by Jerry DeMarco